Hear O’ Israel!
Festival of Jewish
Music & Dance
It's not too late to come!

Mexico City

M

exico City is home to
one of the largest Jewish
communities in Latin America,
numbering more than 75,000
Jewish People. Come and
minister to those who do not
yet know that their Messiah has
come by joining our evangelistic
street outreach team, our altar
and intercessory prayer team,
and so much more during the
three-night Messianic concert
event. Be a part of history
as God inspires these Jewish
hearts through a celebration
of Jewish history and heritage
and challenges souls through
the heart-changing Gospel of
Yeshua. It’s a celebration of
culture that is guaranteed to
change a life – maybe even
yours!

REGISTER NOW!

August 31 - September 9, 2012
For more information or to register, visit www.jewishvoice.org/outreach or call 1-800-299-YESHUA.
2 JewishVoiceToday.org | July/August 2012

M

shalom
M]L[
Shalom, my friends!

This issue of our magazine is focused on our Hear O’ Israel! International
Festivals of Jewish Music & Dance. This highly effective form of outreach
has been one of our primary strategies for directly reaching out to the
Jewish communities of the world. Since 1993, we have organized and
hosted 26 Festivals (This year makes 27!) in 10 countries. Festivals
have taken place in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Siberia, Moldova, Latvia,
Hungary, Argentina, Uruguay, and even India!
More than 560,000 people have attended our Festivals with millions more
participating via television. Thousands have responded to our altar calls—
about one third of those have been Jewish. Dozens of new Messianic
Jewish congregations have been birthed through these outreaches.
These Festivals are vibrant celebrations filled with pageantry, color, and
life. We use the most professional staging, sound, and lighting available
at our concerts. Well-known Messianic Jewish singers, dancers, and
musicians from America, Israel, and Europe entertain the predominantly
Jewish audience. I follow these talented performers with a presentation
of my testimony and a clear and simple Gospel message presenting the
Jewishness of believing in Yeshua.
We close each evening with an opportunity to respond to our message
and receive prayer for specific needs for participants. Hundreds of
volunteers from around the world participate in these Festivals, serving
in street outreach, intercessory prayer, and administration—everyone
working together in harmony.

We need your help! Our Mexico City Festival begins August 31. It will be
one of the largest Festivals that Jewish Voice has hosted in many years. We
have secured the largest indoor venue in the city with a seating capacity
of 10,000. Our Global Outreach team has worked diligently to mobilize
volunteers for key Festival roles. Do you enjoy street outreach? Do you like
to intercede? Do you like to pray for people? It’s not too late to join us.
Call 1-800-299-YESHUA. It’s your ticket to global missions!

20 Middle East Update
A Tale of Two
Committees
By Bill Koenig
Join us monthly for our 90-minute live, interactive webcast, and
get your questions about Israel, Bible prophecy, current events,
and theology answered on the show.
Please visit www.jewishvoice.org/webcast for the latest
information.

4 JewishVoiceToday.org | July/August 2012

NOTEworthy
W

ith the exception of the first century, large-scale
Jewish evangelism has been extremely rare, if not
non-existent. With the collapse of the Soviet Union
in the early 1990s, Jonathan Bernis, compelled by the Ruach
HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit), resigned leadership of his Messianic
congregation in upstate New York, and moved to Russia with
a burden and God-sized outreach strategy to reach a vast and
spiritually destitute Jewish community. Soviet Jews had been
spiritually deprived under the suffocating grip of Communism. The
result of decades-long forced atheistic indoctrination fostered a
Soviet Jewish community uniquely open to the Good News of
Yeshua. The moment was a providential window in history and
prophetic realization of the restoration of Israel.
With a supernatural measure of faith, Jonathan Bernis began
renting stadiums in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet
nations. The Hear O’ Israel! Festival of Jewish Music & Dance
produced a celebratory worship atmosphere where Jewish life,
history, and culture were honored amidst genuine Messianic
worship. The tens of thousands in attendance came to the Festival
hoping for two hours of great music and dance. None were
disappointed, and in addition to an amazing concert, they were
allowed to encounter an amazing God. As a result, the Festival
outreaches yielded tens of thousands of salvations.

continued to lead international Festivals of Jewish music and
dance. This unique and radical evangelism strategy has resulted in
more than 560,000 people attending 26 Festival outreaches from
Russia to Argentina. The fruit of the outreaches extends beyond
the thousands of those who have prayed to receive Yeshua as
Messiah and Lord. Dozens of Messianic congregations and
fellowships have been established in the wake of the Festivals.
For almost 20 years, street outreach teams, performers,
administrators, and prayer warriors have followed Jonathan Bernis
into countries and Jewish communities that desperately needed a
contextual presentation of the Gospel. This great outreach tradition
continues today. This year Jonathan Bernis will lead a Festival
team to Mexico City—one of the largest Jewish communities in
Latin America.
This issue will feature the testimonies of many of the festival
leaders over the past 19 years of outreach. You will also read the
personal account of world-renowned violinist Maurice Sklar. You
will be delighted to learn how the Lord has used his violin to touch
the hearts of tens of thousands of Festival attendees. Our prayer
is that as you read these accounts, you will be encouraged and
compelled to believe God for even greater years of spiritual
harvest through Festival outreaches!

Dear Jonathan Bernis,
Please give a moment of your precious time. I need to share
something important. Without knowing it you have answered a
prayer for a debt I owe the Lemba and Ngono Tribes in what
was then called Rhodesia. Seven of them—actually eight—
gave their lives for me on 9th April 1977.
While working with the security forces, one of my jobs was to
treat anyone ill in the different kraals, from Belingwe, Gwanda,
and Zaka districts. On this day, I was helping an elder who was
going to die, when a group of terrorists entered the area. The
old man leapt from his bed, covered me in animal skins, and
started acting like a madman. The terrorists ignored him and
took seven other men from the tribe and slaughtered them. Not
one of these men or their families gave me up. They died to
keep me hidden. The old elder died a short while later.

injuries sustained in the war. My body may not work, but my
mind has never stopped.
Last year when you sent out the letter about the Lemba, my heart
jumped because now I can pay a little toward medical help for
someone; maybe, just maybe one of them who comes to you
will be a child or grandchild of one of those very brave men.
I continue to pray for all of you while the opportunity to reach
the lost is still open.
May your blessings increase,
Norma, U.K.

This is a debt I know I can never repay, and I have lived with
the pain and tears all these years. Later I became disabled from

Traditional Jewish Life and Religion
Modern Jewish Values and Yeshua
Yeshua and the Spirit of Prophecy
Christian Zionism and Yeshua
Fall Festivals: New Year to Tabernacles
Spring Festivals: Passover to Pentecost

Learn online through video sessions
No quizzes or reading required

Only $39 per course
To be notified by email as courses become available, contact

Dr. Raymond L. Gannon at: info@jvims.com

u p fr o nt | J o n at h a n b e rn i s

A Celebration of Jewish Culture:

Birth of a Vision
A

s a child growing up in a typical American Jewish
family, I did not know much about Jesus, other
than He was the god of Christianity. I’d been
taught to believe He and His followers did not like Jewish
People and that many atrocities had been committed
against us Jews in His name. It was not within my
worldview to believe in Jesus and still be a Jew. During my
teenage years, I began to develop a singular ambition—to
become a successful businessman before I turned 30.
Jesus did not figure in my plans. However, in 1980, while a
Business major at the University of Buffalo (in preparation
to fulfill my dream), my entire life was turned upside
down. Through a series of events, Jesus broke into my life.

God had a better plan

Needless to say, the direction of my life changed radically
and all my life goals shifted! I abandoned business for a
call to the ministry. Upon completing a degree in Jewish
Studies and Early Christianity, I started a Messianic
Jewish congregation called Congregation Shema Yisrael

in my hometown of Rochester, New York. I happily did
this for almost nine years until God sovereignly called
me to a groundbreaking work in the former Soviet Union
following a fact-finding trip I took there in 1990.

With the fall of Communism, a land long held in darkness
captured my attention. I reactivated a ministry I had
started for college students in 1994 called Hear O’ Israel!
Ministries to facilitate this new call. After numerous trips
and small outreaches, the work grew and by 1993, we
were holding large-scale Festivals of Jewish music and
dance and tens of thousands of people were responding.
What’s more—the great majority were Jewish! The
overwhelming response to these Festivals was clearly a
phenomenon. In some cities, like Odessa, Ukraine and
Kishinev, Moldova, we were renting and filling entire
soccer stadiums—up to 60,000 people at a single event!
In 1996, Chira Kaplan traveled to one of the Festivals we
were conducting in Kishinev, Moldova, to cover the event
Jewish Voice Today

7

Scattering good seed around the globe

The apostle Paul declared, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel,
because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone
who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile”
(Romans 1:16). This is the reason that Jewish Voice goes
wherever Jewish People are and shares the truth of God’s
Word with them, no matter how remote their location is!
I have been privileged to hold Festivals of Jewish Music
& Dance throughout Eastern Europe, India, and South
America for close to two decades. Here are some
highlights from several of our key Festival outreaches.

In some instances, we were
renting and filling entire
soccer stadiums—up to 60,000
people at a single event!
for Jewish Voice. It was there
that Chira first approached me
about entering into a closer relationship with Jewish Voice
and even to consider the possibility of taking over the
ministry when Brother Louis Kaplan retired.
My friendship with both Chira and Louis grew quickly
in the months following that event. Within a short time,
our two ministries entered into a strategic partnership to
produce evangelistic television programs for Russia and
Ukraine.
I assumed leadership of Jewish Voice in 1998, and then
on January 1, 2001, Jewish Voice Broadcasts and Hear
O’ Israel! Ministries merged into one ministry, renamed
Jewish Voice Ministries International.

Evangelistic explosion

Since our small beginnings in 1993, more than 560,000
people have crowded into stadiums, concert halls, and
coliseums from St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1993 to Rosario,
Argentina, in 2011—that’s 26 total Festival outreaches
to date—to attend our vibrant Hear O’ Israel! Festivals of
Jewish Music & Dance. Millions more have participated by
television broadcasts. Tens of thousands have responded
to altar calls, including thousands of Jewish People.
Amazingly, more than a dozen new Messianic Jewish
congregations have been birthed in the former Soviet
Union through these outreaches, and many more have
since spun off from the original groups.
8 JewishVoiceToday.org | July/August 2012

St. Petersburg, Russia
1993

14,000 in attendance
I will always recall our very first
Hear O’ Israel! Festival in St.
Petersburg, Russia. What an
awesome move of God! Some
14,000 attended the threenight event, and of those who
attended, more than 10,000 responded to our altar calls. A
large percentage of those who responded to my invitation
to accept Yeshua as Messiah were Jewish. The success
of our initial St. Petersburg Festival caused the Festival
outreach to expand the
following year in Moscow,
Minsk, and Kiev.
We planted one of the
first Messianic Jewish
congregations in the
former Soviet Union as
a result of this Festival
and my decision to leave
my comfortable life in
Rochester, New York. The
living conditions in Russia
in the early 1990s were
challenging; hot water and
electricity were erratic,
and KGB operatives were
following us. Yet words can’t
describe our overwhelming
joy as the crowds literally
ran down the aisles when
we gave an altar call. The
Spirit of God was moving
in their hearts and many of
them were Jewish!

Odessa, Ukraine 1995

60,000 in attendance
This was our second largest Festival to date, only superseded
by our Festival in Vijayawada, India, in January 2000, which
brought 70,000. Some 30,000 people in Odessa, nearly half
the Festival attendees, were Jewish. We rented Odessa's
football (soccer) stadium and filled it! At least 45,000 stood
to repent of their sins and commit their lives to Yeshua.
I stood up and prayed over the crowd, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I ask, Father, for
Your healing power to flow through this stadium. Restore
the bodies of all who are sick. Thank You for Your mercy.â&#x20AC;?
God answered in a bold and dramatic way as instantaneous
healings took place throughout the stadium.

Vijayawada, India 2000

70,000+ in attendance
India is a botttomless pit of need, but the receptiveness of
the Indians to a 'Jewish Gospel' is amazing! In the past, the
Gospel was presented to these people from the mainstream
church's perspective, which was filtered through a Gentile
understanding. But when I preached the Good News
each evening from a Jewish perspective, Believers and
unbelievers alike were astonished with this new message of
salvation in a Jewish Messiah. Young and old came with a
spiritual hunger, in need of a miracle to survive. Blind eyes
were opened. Deaf ears were suddenly able to hear. The
Spirit of the living God had made His presence known!

Krasnoyarsk,
Siberia 2004

9,000 in attendance
This area in Central
Siberia is home to
Jewish war prisoners
who were sent here
from Moscow in
the early 1600s to
colonize the area and
strengthen the Moscow
principality. Exiled
Jews would continue to be the main reason for growth of the
Jewish community in Krasnoyarsk, as well as all over Siberia.
We were blessed to showcase the talents of music and dance
team Kol Simcha and singing sensation Victor Klimenko
at our Festival in Krasnoyarsk in August 2004. Plus, one of
my dear friends, Sid Roth, was instrumental in providing
humanitarian aid and good will to a local orphanage there.
Despite initial opposition from a local rabbi, who was
trying to intimidate Festival attendees by taking photos
of them as they entered the stadium, and despite the fears
of many locals that Jewish Voice was there to brainwash
them, God did exceedingly above what we could ask or
imagine. The stadium was packed, and you could just
sense the enthusiasm as attendees anticipated a great night
of worship and the chance to come to know and be healed
by Messiah Yeshua through our prayer team.

Rosario, Argentina 2011

9,500 in attendance
At the close of the 2010 Montevideo, Uruguay, Festival,
which brought 8,790 attendees and the planting of our
very first Messianic Jewish congregation there through the
instrumental
work of JVMI
friends Jorge
and Marcela
Goldstein, the
Lord placed the
great nation of
Argentina on my
heart once again.
I had conducted
Festival
outreaches
in Argentina
twice in the last
decade; first in Buenos Aires in 2000 (22,000 attendees),
and then in Cordoba in 2009 (12,100 attendees).

Since we began the Festivals in
1993, more than 560,000 people
have crowded into stadiums,
concert halls, and coliseums from
St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1993 to
Rosario, Argentina, in 2011.

Jewish Voice Today

9

It seemed God was speaking to me about the city of
Rosario, 190 miles northwest of Buenos Aires. Argentina
is home to more than 250,000 Jews, many of whom are in
the process of making aliyah. Current estimates in Rosario
number the Jewish community at 20,000. It was the right
place and right time to bring the Good News of Yeshua to
these precious people.

Mexico City, Mexico 2012

August 31-September 9
Yeshua said in John 9:4-5, “As long as it is day, we must
do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when
no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light
of the world.” The work continues and we are anticipating
even greater fruit for God’s
Kingdom this year!

800-299-YESHUA or emailing outreach@jvmi.org.
As we set our focus on the glorious future God has in
store for us in these Last Days, let us be ever mindful of
the words of the
apostle Paul: “Let us
not become weary
in doing good, for at
the proper time we
will reap a harvest
if we do not give
up” (Galatians 6:9).
And, oh, what a
harvest it will be!

God is calling us to Mexico City,
one of the largest Hispanic Jewish
population centers in the world
and home to more than 21 million
people in its metropolitan center.

God is calling us to Mexico
City, one of the largest
Hispanic Jewish population
centers in the world and home
to more than 21 million people
in its metropolitan center. You
can still join our team as a
street evangelist, prayer warrior,
and more, so be sure to sign up
for the trip by calling Israel Smith, one
of our International Coordinators, at

All of history hangs on the answer to one question:

Who is Jesus of Nazareth?
a rabbi looks at jesus
of nazareth
With warmth and transparency, Jewish Voice’s own Messianic Rabbi
Jonathan Bernis shares a compelling case—with overwhelming
evidence that can be traced to the Torah itself—for Jesus as
Messiah. And then he provides Christians with the knowledge and
tools they need to effectively share Yeshua with their Jewish family
and friends in a loving and sensitive way. 240 pages, hardcover.

"Who has heard such a thing? Who
has ever seen such things? Can a
country be born in a day or a
nation be brought forth in a
moment? Yet no sooner is
Zion in labor than she
gives birth to her
children"
(Isaiah 66:8).

T

he prophet Jeremiah
predicted that the
Jews of the Babylonian
captivity would be restored after seventy
yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and the book of Daniel records
that prophecy was literally fulfilled after the
Babylonians fell to the Persian Empire.
But there was also a second ingathering prophesied for the
Jews of Israel by the Prophet Ezekiel, one specifically identified
by the prophet as concerning the "latter days" (Ezekiel 38:16).

At that time, said the prophet, the Jews will again inhabit the Land of
Promise, which the prophet specifically identifies geographically as "the
mountains of Israel."
It is this second ingathering that constitutes the most overtly miraculous work
of God since the First Advent.
The modern State of Israel stands as a living monument to the unbreakable
Word of God; vibrant and living evidence of God's existence and His continued
involvement in the affairs of mankind.
The manner of her restoration is both overtly miraculous and historically
fortuitous. It shouldn't exist. But in order for any of the prophecies of the Bible
for the Last Days to have any contemporary context, it must exist.

12 JewishVoiceToday.org | July/August 2012

Without the existence of a literal, politically viable
Jewish State known as "Israel," none of the prophecies
concerning the Last Days and the coming judgment of
the nations find any historical context.
Whatever is happening on the global stage would then
serve no particular prophetic agenda, and we could draw
no particular confidence from seeing it unfold.
But, since there is such a historical entity as Israel, a
nation 'born in a day' as a Jewish State, against all the
odds, we can know that the events that are unfolding in
our lifetimes are following a particular script.
The current worldwide economic crisis has a prophetic
context only because there exists a Jewish State called
"Israel." Until the restoration of Israel in 1948, there was
no prophetic context into which one could place the
Crash of 1929.
We can see the prophetic context now, thanks to
historical hindsight, but the context is that the Great
Depression was among the factors that caused the World
War that resulted in the fulfillment of the prophecy of
the restoration of Israel in the Last Days.
Looking forward or backward, in terms of Bible
prophecy, the temporal frame of reference that matters is
May 14, 1948.
Israel is at the heart of every conflict; the question of the
final status of Jerusalem is as important to America or
Russia or Europe as it is to Tel Aviv.
The Bible records that Yeshua was asked by His disciples,
"What shall be the sign of Your coming and of the
end of the world?" His reply is recorded in the three
Synoptic Gospels and is known collectively as the Olivet
Discourse. Among the signs He gave is this one, recorded
in Luke 21:24: "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the
Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."
The signs of the times mean we are now living in the
times of the signs. And the biggest sign of all is the Star
of David flying over Jerusalem.
What a time to be alive!
Jack Kinsella is the founder and publisher of the Omega Letter (www.
omegaletter.com). Jack is head writer of The Hal Lindsey Report television
program and former head writer for This Week in Bible Prophecy. Jack
is the author of more than two thousand columns on current events and
Bible prophecy.
Jewish Voice Today

13

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14 JewishVoiceToday.org | July/August 2012

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Festival Resources
Hear O’ Israel! Festival Videos
Since 1993, these Outreach Festivals have reached more than 500,000 people in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova,
Latvia, Hungary, Siberia, Ethiopia, India, and Argentina. Thousands of nationals from these countries, including large
numbers of Jewish People, have accepted Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah. Each DVD: gift of $15.00

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Gift of $23.00 #8661

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Hebrew Melodies
If you have a heart for
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Gift of $20.00 #8325

15

F e st i va l Q & A | M au r i c e S k l a r

A Virtuoso Inspires
Decisions for Messiah
An interview with Maurice Sklar, Festival Violinist

How and when did you get involved with
Jewish Voice Hear O’ Israel! Festivals?
I first learned of Jonathan Bernis’ ministry through Ulf
Ekman and Word of Life Bible Centre in Uppsala, Sweden.
If I am remembering correctly, I first met Jonathan at Benny
Hinn’s church, the Orlando Christian Center, in Orlando,
Florida, in the early 1990s. Jonathan asked me to join him in
Moscow, Russia, for his Russia Jewish Music Festival in 1994.

What have been your roles at our Festivals?
I have been a performer during all these Festivals, and it is
so rewarding. I help prepare a spiritual, prophetic platform
for Jonathan before he ministers. The music breaks through
barriers and demonic opposition, and connects with the
hearts of the audience so that they can respond to the Gospel
message.

Why do you enjoy volunteering in this role
with Jewish Voice?
Impacting thousands at each Festival through music,
bringing the people that attend the Festivals closer to the
Lord, and seeing thousands come to the Lord is the most
rewarding part about the Festival.

Why are you still involved with JVMI Festivals?
I believe in Jonathan’s and Jewish Voice’s vision for the Jewish
People and will always support him and Jewish Voice. My
wife, Devorah, and I just love him!

How has God blessed and/or pleasantly
surprised you because of your involvement
with JVMI Festivals?
I have always been amazed at how God uses my violin to
open hearts and remove spiritual barriers so that both Jews
and Gentiles alike can receive the Good News of the Gospel.
16 JewishVoiceToday.org | July/August 2012

I have a different anointing when I play for Jonathan than
when I play anywhere else, and it is a great joy for me. Of
course, I was amazed at how many Jewish People were born
again, particularly in Russia and Eastern Europe. Also, the
staff and volunteers are an inspiration. I have been treated so
professionally and so well every time. I just love all of you!

Tell us about a key moment from one of the
Festivals you attended that really touched
your heart.
Sometimes you don’t know if you are impacting the audience
that comes, but when you see hundreds of people streaming
up to the front for prayer, it moves you. The greatest moment
for me was in Moscow when I played “Nigun” by Ernest
Bloch in the Olympic Stadium. In those days, I didn’t have
a soundtrack for it . . . it was just the solo violin. You could
hear a pin drop it was so quiet. Everyone knew the piece and
listened with such reverence. That was a musical and spiritual
height for me that has never been equaled. That was one of
the greatest moments of my whole life.

What truths/principles has God taught you as
a participant at our Festival?
It is the power of the Gospel to the Jew first. The greatest
harvest of Jewish souls in all history—not since the book of
Acts have so many Jews come to faith in Yeshua at one time
. . . making history; careful planning; great sound, thank
God; the best use of strategic music and dance/performing
arts for this purpose that I have ever known; excellence in
ministry in every detail; and the best treatment by Jonathan’s
staff of any ministry I have ever worked with. In fact, after
nearly 20 years, I have not one negative memory concerning
my Festival partnership with Jonathan Bernis and his team.
Thanks for that. You guys are the best!

What type of person should consider
coming on this kind of outreach?
Anyone who wants to see souls saved, who loves the
Jewish People, and who has a helping heart should
consider joining a Festival outreach. It is a lot of work,
but it is so rewarding. A Festival volunteer should be a
mature Believer who does not complain, prefers others
before him or herself, is willing to work out on the streets,
and is willing to do the dozens of other necessary things
that need to be done. Only because of the work and labor
of love of these hundreds of volunteers can our jobs as
performers be fully used for these events. A volunteer
should also have a special love for the Jewish People who
are still scattered throughout the earth, as well as the heart
of an evangelist that loves the lowest of people with the
love of God and is patient and kind with those around
them.

What can a new Festival volunteer expect
or hope to gain from joining a JVMI Festival
outreach?
You will experience great camaraderie, team spirit, and
overwhelming satisfaction when that one person you met
during street ministry shows up and comes to know the
Lord. It is a great way to minister to thousands in a short
amount of time. Plus, we have a fabulous time! There is
great food, great fellowship, and loads of joy that comes
only this way! You will be amazed at how the Holy Spirit
anoints you for this great task!

Pray
for the Peace
of

Jerusalem:
May they prosper
who love you.
Psalm 122:6

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How and when did you get
involved with Jewish Voice
Hear O’ Israel! Festivals?

thousands of people accepting the Lord
and turning back to their Messiah. It has
been an absolute blessing in my life.

In 1996 a large part of the youth group
from Congregation Beth Yeshua in
Philadelphia went to the Festival in
Moldova, and my wife, Doris, and I were
asked to go along as chaperones since we
were the youth leaders.

How has God blessed and/
or pleasantly surprised you
because of your involvement
with JVMI Festivals?

What have been your roles at
our Festivals?
My first two years of the Festivals, I was in
charge of the ushers in the stadium. After
that, I was put in charge of both outreach
and the ushers in the stadium. At the last
several Festivals, I have been in charge of
the outreach teams, the usher teams, and
the altar call ministry at the end of each
Festival night.

Why do you enjoy volunteering
in this role with Jewish Voice?
I love to serve in this capacity, because I
am able to interact with people and I can
support the volunteers as they minister.
Many volunteers who come for the first
time have limited experience in street
outreach, ushering, and altar ministry.
It gives me great joy to introduce them
to those ministries, to teach them what I
can, and to train them into the roles that
God has for them at the Festival.

Why are you still involved with
JVMI Festivals?
Working at a JVMI Festival is one of
the most exhausting processes I have
ever been involved with. However, it is
such an amazing blessing to be a part of

At this point, my son is coming with
me on most of the Festivals, and he is
becoming involved in the ministry. Not
only does he join me on street outreach,
but at the last two Festivals in Argentina,
he has performed on stage—once with
the dance troupe and the second time
with the Klezmer band. It is a joy to see
him raised up early in ministry.

Tell us about a key moment
from one of the Festivals you
attended that really touched
your heart.
There are absolutely too many key
moments for me to count. Each time I
hear a Festival volunteer tell me that they
just led someone to the Lord for the very
first time, that is a moment no one can
put a value on. To see fellow laborers
empowered and encouraged in their walk
with the Lord while they are ministering
to others is something I witness every day
during the Festival.

What truths/principles has God
taught you as a volunteer at
our Festival?
Never doubt God. Time and time again,
something has happened that would
place the entire Festival in doubt, and
time and time again God has intervened.

18 JewishVoiceToday.org | July/August 2012

The Festivals have been an overwhelming
success. I also have grown to understand
how important this ministry is as it
ministers to Jewish People and ministers
to Gentiles and it brings them together
in one place at one time to worship the
same Lord.

What type of person should
consider coming on this kind of
outreach?
I do not believe there is a type of person
qualified to participate in our outreach.
Rather, I think that anyone, if they want
to serve the Lord, can be equipped by
God to work on these outreaches. If you
cannot walk great distances, which is a
requirement for the street ministry, the
prayer room is available for an outreach
of a different kind. There is something for
everyone on these Festivals. There is no
reason for anyone to stay home!

What can a new Festival
volunteer expect or hope
to gain from joining a JVMI
Festival outreach?
Without a doubt, your faith will be
strengthened. You will gain a boldness
and desire for sharing the Lord that you
never had before. You will know that
when your time comes to go be with
the Lord, one of those occasions where
He will look at your track record and
say, “Well done, faithful servant” will be
serving as a volunteer at a JVMI Festival.
I say that with all respect and humility,
because the Festivals are all about
reaching God’s people for God’s purpose
in God’s time. To be a part of that process
means you are aligned with God’s will.

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As part of the JVMCI educational experience, students will be
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Jonathan Bernis

 During the week, students have opportunities to serve

JVMCI President

within the various departments of Jewish Voice Ministries
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Jewish Voice Today

19

M i ddl e E a st Upd at e | b i ll k o e n i g

A Tale of Two Committees
Two opposing forces in the Jewish community pertaining
to Israel: Neither will support the biblical or strategic
rights to Judea and Samaria

T

oday, there are two opposing
forces in the Jewish
community pertaining
to Israel. There is the 50-year-old
American Israel Public Affairs
Committee (AIPAC), “America’s proIsrael lobby,” and the four-year-old J
Street group, which claims to be proIsrael, pro-peace movement, and an
advocate for peace in the Middle East.

As usual, there was significant security
at the AIPAC conference—metal
detectors, security wands, and many
security personnel—which were
increased even more during President
Barack Obama and Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s
addresses. All attendees went through
security, and employees went through
security and background checks.

There were 13,000 attendees at
AIPAC’s Annual Policy Conference
at the Washington Convention
Center from March 4-6. There
were 2,500 attendees at J Street’s
“Making History” conference at the
Washington Convention Center from
March 24-27.

There were no metal detectors,
security wands, etc., at J Street. There
were only a few security personnel
in attendance, and you had to look
to find them. I guess if you actively
back a Palestinian state, you aren’t
concerned about being a victim of
terror.

20 JewishVoiceToday.org | July/August 2012

At AIPAC, there were many breakout
sessions on the major risks Israel
faces internally, on its borders and
throughout the Middle East. This
complements the frequent news and
commentary posted at their website.
J Street had two meetings: “What If
Israel Attacks Iran?” and “The Impact
of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
on America’s Interests: A Military
Perspective.” Both focused on the
impact on the United States and the
world community, but not Israel.
J Street brought in Arab members of
the Israeli Knesset and Palestinians
who don’t represent the Palestinian
people in their parliament. None

of these people has a political say in Palestinian politics, nor was there a
mention of the Hamas-led Palestinian Parliament (they hold 74 of 132
seats)—which doesn’t acknowledge Israel’s right to exist.
J Street seems to be well intentioned, but it is unable to fully comprehend
the enormous threats Israel faces in the country, on the border, and across
the Middle East.
Jews and Arabs may get along at the J Street conference, but this is a false
picture, since these people have nothing to do with Israel living in peace
and security—and they won’t be the ones negotiating a peace deal.
Neither group has publicly committed to the biblical boundaries of the
nation of Israel and has stated that this is not a biblical issue but a practical
one.
Most on both sides of the debate have no interest in discussing Israel’s
biblical right to the Land, specifically Judea, Samaria, and East Jerusalem.
AIPAC doesn’t want to oppose the Israeli government’s position, which
was forced on it by the United States and the international community.
AIPAC has built enormous support on Capitol Hill for ensuring Israel’s
peace and security but will not challenge Congress’ two-state position.
AIPAC won’t make a public statement that Judea and Samaria are
of strategic importance because it doesn’t want to oppose the Israeli
government or possibly jeopardize financial support for Israel through
Congress.
AIPAC knows quite well the strategic importance of Judea, Samaria, and
East Jerusalem. At its conference, it has many briefings on the threats that
Israel faces on the inside, on the borders, and throughout the Middle East.
J Street acts as if there is no threat to Israel—or underplays it. It believes
the threat would diminish greatly if Israel would give up what it calls
“Occupied Land” in a peace deal. It doesn’t attempt to connect the
security dots.
In reality, not standing for the biblical rights of the Promised Land or
the strategic importance of Judea, Samaria, and East Jerusalem is leading
the Middle East to the future wars spoken of in Ezekiel 38-39, Zechariah
12-14, Psalm 83, Isaiah 17:1, Mathew 24, Revelation, and many other
Scriptures.

William Koenig is the director of “Koenig International News” (http://watch.org), an Internet news
service with readers and e-mail subscribers in 50 states and 105 countries, and has been a White
House correspondent since January 2001. Koenig publishes an online weekly news report called
“Koenig’s Eye View from the White House” that focuses on biblically relevant world news and White
House news from a Christian perspective. He has authored Eye to Eye: Facing the Consequences of
Dividing Israel, which is in its 14th printing, and published the book in Hebrew.
Jewish Voice Today

21

On To p i c | J o n at h a n G a nn o n

2012 Festival Outreach in

Mexico City

T

he 2012 outreach year will be crowned by one of the
most epic international outreaches ever organized
by JVMI. For several years the Lord has stirred the
heart of Jonathan Bernis and this ministry to bring the Good
News of Messiah Yeshua to the largest Jewish population
center in all of Central America—Mexico City. Residing
primarily in the Polanco District, the Jewish community has
assimilated successfully into the very nationalistic culture
of Mexico. With estimates as low as 75,000 and some as
high as 200,000, this largely secular Jewish community is
spiritually lost and eternally hopeless without Yeshua. After
years of prayer and planning, the doors for JVMI have finally
opened! The Lord has emphatically confirmed the timing,
the team is prepared, and we are forging ahead!
Mexico City was originally built by the Aztecs in 1325 on
an island of Lake Texcoco. Tenochtitlan was eventually

22 JewishVoiceToday.org | July/August 2012

conquered by conquistador Hernán Cortés following his
defeat of the Aztec emperor Montezuma in 1520. The city
was later named Mexico City in 1585.
Mexico City is a sprawling city and boasts a population of
more than 12 million residents. Some consider Mexico
City the “New York City” of Central America. The city’s
impressive international airport, performing arts presence,
museums, universities, and sporting arenas exemplify the
strength and modernity of the city. However, although
the city is more than 90 percent Catholic, Mexico City
is extremely pluralistic. The famous national cathedral of
Mexico City (Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of
Mary) was built by Spanish conquistadors on the site of an
Aztec temple (Templo Mayor).

(Continued on page 24)

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In India’s mountainous northeastern
sector, thousands of Bnei Menashe
(“Children of Manasseh”) live
as part of the Hmar and Mizo
tribal communities. We live in
one of the greatest moments
in Bible prophecy as God
continues to gather His
scattered People back unto
Himself! Some 7,000 of the Bnei
Menashe have been approved
to make aliyah to the Land of
Israel. In the meantime, these
precious people need medical,
dental, and eye care – as well as
the life-changing message of Yeshua.
Reach them with the tangible love of
Yeshua! Come and serve this Lost Tribe
in one of the most remote parts of the
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clinic!

Manipur

October 26 - November 4, 2012

For more information or to register, visit www.jewishvoice.org/outreach or call 800-299-YESHUA.
Jewish Voice Today

23

(Continued from page 22)
Following the defeat of the Aztecs, the cathedral was
constructed over the site of the temple to consolidate
Spanish power. The church was built with the very stones
of the Aztec temple, an architectural personification of
the pluralistic nature of the city. To this day, Aztec priests
can be seen performing rituals just beyond the gates
of the cathedral . . . while
non-Catholic Believers in
Jesus are legally prohibited
from engaging in evangelism
in the same area! The site
remains one of the most
spiritually oppressive areas
in Mexico with demonic
manifestations and satanic
cultural representations in
abundance. Only the light
of Yeshua can pierce this
ancient darkness!

hungry Jews who encountered Yeshua as Messiah. Many
tens of thousands of Jews and Gentiles came to faith. The
legacy of this great outreach model has continued over
the years and will yield abundant spiritual fruit in Mexico
City as it has throughout South America and Eastern
Europe.
The dates for this
outreach are August
31-September 9, 2012.
My most sincere hope
and prayer is that you
begin preparing to join us
on this amazing outreach.
We need 150-200 people
to partner with JVMI
on the streets of Mexico
City, sharing the Good
News of Yeshua, and
inviting people to the Festival outreach. Together we
can make a difference for the King of Kings! See you in
Mexico. Go to www.jewishvoice.org/hearoisrael for more
information about our Festival outreaches.

We need 150-200 people to
partner with JVMI on the streets
of Mexico City, sharing the Good
News of Yeshua, and inviting
people to the Festival outreach.

The Hear O’ Israel! Festival of Jewish Music & Dance is a
very unique outreach model. Jonathan Bernis was led to
employ this outreach system nearly 20 years ago in Russia
and filled stadiums and concert halls with spiritually

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Jewish Voice Today

25

On To p i c | J ayd e n A . L e v i tt

A Stadium-Sized Dream
Have you ever dreamed what it would be like to personally witness
thousands of Jewish People embrace Jesus as their Messiah and
Savior?

I

magine the scene: In some far-flung
spot on the globe, thousands of
sons and daugthers of Jacob of all
ages stream into a stadium or orchestra
hall where they know they’ll hear the
Gospel. Their lives are difficult. “There
must be something more,” their empty
eyes seem to say, “and maybe it has to do
with this curious ‘Yeshua.’” Many have
little understanding of what it means
to be Jewish, and hope to learn more.
Some come driven by desperation so
great, they’ve literally knocked down
the doors, crashing through glass walls,
to get a seat inside the arena. Others,
sensing a date with destiny, willingly
endure an entire day outside in the icy
cold (or sweltering heat), waiting for the
doors to open. They come, even though,
like in the book of Acts, fanatical fringe
Jewish groups opposed to the Gospel
(“anti-missionaries”) may try to stop
them. Of course, many Gentiles are
present as well; they’re just as interested
as their Jewish neighbors in a God who
loves, forgives, and heals.

The praise and worship of Yeshua
begins, and His Holy Presence—
feeling at first both strange yet
soothing—tenderly touches their
hearts. Something deep inside the
Jewish soul resonates to the arrival of
the Ancient of Days. Soon children are
dancing, crowds are clapping, and tears
are splashing. It’s as if God has thrown
a grand party to welcome home His
prodigal Jewish People.
Jonathan tells them about the Sovereign
Source of the peace and joy that changed
his life and can change theirs. And they
listen, intently. Finally an altar call is
given, and literally multitudes jump at
the chance to express faith in Israel’s
Messiah. Many, including the sick and
cancer-afflicted, are miraculously and
instantaneously healed. Precious Jewish
People leave visibly changed, filled with
hope, health, and most importantly,
heaven in their hearts.
In the book of Acts, the apostle Peter
preached in Jerusalem one day, and

26 JewishVoiceToday.org | July/August 2012

3,000 Jews turned to Yeshua. To the
glory of God, and as He promised, He is
doing even greater works in these Last
Days.
God has been using these Festivals to
build bridges between Gentiles and Jews
in unusual ways. For example, many
of the cities in which we hold Festivals
have been blood-stained by centuries of
anti-Semitism. The large-scale outreach
imparts a new appreciation of Jewish
culture—and Jewish People. Over and
again we hear, usually between heaving
sobs, these words from local Christians
impacted by our ministry: “I repent of the
Jew-hatred in my heart. May God forgive
me, and may He show me how to love
and help the Jewish People.” In these days
of mounting anti-Semitism all over the
world, we trust God will.
—Jayden A. Levitt, Former Festival
Participant

Your Ticket to
Global Missions!

Africa
Gondar, Ethiopia
Minister in the epicenter of Ethiopian Jewry â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Gondar, Ethiopia. This city is
where the Jewish Community of this nation actually originated. Through
a recent landmark change in Israeli policy, aliyah has opened for many
over the next several years, and thousands are scheduled to return to
Israel. Come and minister to these Jewish outcasts with us as we bring
free medical, dental, and eye care, and allow the Lord to
use you to facilitate physical and spiritual healing
in the lives of these precious children of
Abraham. No medical training required.
Bonus excursion to Fasilidasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Castle!

Gondar
September 28 - October 7, 2012
For more information or to register, visit www.jewishvoice.org/outreach or call 800-299-YESHUA.
Jewish Voice Today

27

Israel Tour

2012

November 30 - December 11, 2012

My family and I invite you to join us
for the experience of a lifetime in the
Land where Yeshua walked!